Mancini has 3 games to save job

City travel to Newcastle on Saturday then host Reading a week later before a Boxing Day trip to Sunderland

Mancini is on the brink as the fallout from Manchester City’s derby defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United continues.

City’s second successive Champions League flop and the failure to secure the consolation prize of Europa League football hasn’t gone down well.

But Starport understands it is the defence of their Premier League title that has left under pressure boss Mancini in serious danger.

The 3-2 derby loss was the Blues’ first league defeat this season.

But they look a shadow of the side that won last season’s title and trail fierce enemies United by six points.

The City hierarchy are already panicking about the size of the gap. They fear their Premier League crown could be impossible to retain if it grows significantly bigger before the end of the month.

City travel to Newcastle on Saturday then host Reading a week later before a Boxing Day trip to Sunderland.

Those three fixtures look set to decide whether City’s Abu Dhabi owners bring the axe down on Mancini now or keep faith for a little longer.

A fresh player bust-up, this time with keeper Joe Hart following the United defeat, and another run-in with Mario Balotelli, won’t help Mancini and will cause more concern that he is losing his grip on things at the Etihad.

Mancini is believed to have already had some of his power stripped away by recently appointed sporting director Txiki Begiristain.

The Italian is understood to have been told to focus on team selection and tactics and leave the buying and selling of players to Begiristain.